WHY TRUST THE UES

Code officials are in a uniquely difficult situation. Imagine if you will a building department in the year 2013. All such departments have been “downsized” due to the unfortunate downturn in construction. The staff is so small; everyone is working to 115 percent capacity as it is. Suddenly and without warning construction begins to pick up. Does this lack of staff liberate you from your sworn duty to protect the public? No it doesn’t. Obviously, you want to do an exceptional job or you would not be reading this.

So, there you are with half the staff you had back in 2006 and a rapidly increasing workload. Your employees are stressed; your customers (the public) begin to be discontent. Citizens complain to their elected officials — your bosses. Elected officials then put pressure on you, raising your stress level. What can possibly help? The Uniform Evaluation Service exists to assist you in leveraging departmental resources.

On the other hand, imagine if your jurisdiction was just a stick in the mud and didn’t allow building innovation because there isn’t enough staff available. Where would the new construction go?

• A Uniform Evaluation Report provides condensed information: A quick review of the UER briefs the code official for upcoming discussions before they happen. This allows a great exchange of ideas between the building professionals and the jurisdiction.

• A Uniform Evaluation Report provides convenience: The code official only has to look in one place to find all relevant test data summarized. Unlike a listing, a Uniform Evaluation Report addresses all the requirements for code acceptance, even in different codes or standards.

• Uniform Evaluation Report allows leveraging of resources: Let us assume that each Evaluation Report has about one week of engineering hours. Imagine if your staff had to spend 40 or more hours reviewing test reports on each innovative product. Some years might see 300 new products introduced to the market place. Each department would require 10 fold employees to do the work. Evaluating just 100 new products, at 40 hours each, requires almost two additional employees at a cost of perhaps $100,000. It could be argued that each department using Uniform Evaluation Service frees two staff members to do other important work. Using UES can enhance a customer’s counter experience and satisfaction.

• Provides a tool to simplify permit issuance

• The Uniform Evaluation Service strives for excellent customer service. Give us a call and we are confident you will be pleased.

True, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials is the parent organization of the Uniform Evaluation Service who issues Uniform Evaluation Reports. Plumbers, yes, but we are also much more. Remember that IAPMO also issues the Uniform Mechanical Code. As a code official, you often rely on your mechanical inspector to look over all the systems the other inspectors won’t do —- for instance, grease hood duct systems, and shafts and dampers. Shafts and dampers are integral to the safe operation of all buildings required to maintain specific floor-to-floor fire separation. Floor-to-floor fire separation allows the existing concepts to function, protects life and property. With this much responsibility, expanding into the building component arena is a natural fit for IAPMO. Industry asked us to enter the building component arena about five years ago to provide an option to the industry stakeholders.

Here is some history on Evaluation Reports in the United States:

Pre 1990 Codes were regionally developed

ICC to 2007 Three code groups merged to form ICC

Post 2007 IAPMO’s Uniform ES enters market

Evaluation Reports

Evaluation Reports

Evaluation Reports

BOCA Building Officials and Code Administrators – (Northern US)

ICC-ES

ICC-ES

ICBO International Council of Building Officials (Western US)

IAPMO’s Uniform-ES

NES National Evaluation Service Nation Wide

SBCCI Southern Building Code Congress International (Southern US)

IAPMO brings excellent qualifications to the table:• 75 years of product certification• 85 years of code development• Trusted by code officials, architects, engineers

1703.1.2 Equipment:• Equipment Adequate and CalibratedIAPMO qualifies because it actually has an in-house ISO 17025 certified test lab. To be used as substantiating data, third party labs must also be ISO 17025 certified.

Here is SEAOC’s opinion

SEAOC 2011 CONVENTION PROCEEDINGSTitle: An Evaluation of Current Practices Related to the Development and Implementation of Acceptance Criteria and Product Evaluation ReportsMark A. Moore, Chair SEAOC Evaluation Reports CommitteePage 1: “…. Furthermore, while ICC-ES and IAPMO ES are the prominent ER Providers, there are several other organizations that provide reports.

• Evaluation Criteria - Will use existing criteria where possible — avoid costs associated with re-inventing the wheel - Evaluation Criteria for Public Comment — allow public input to reach a good solution - Policy and Procedures — Discuss the criteria meeting how it works. Comments collected. Use the SOP

• Minimum QA Requirements - Show the inspection list — we don’t require you to give us a copy of your quality manual.